Members of Unite including controllers who work at TfL's CentreComm control centre, revenue protection inspectors and road transport enforcement officers have walked out over a disparity between their pay rises and those of London Underground staff.

The workers were offered a non-consolidated extra payment of £250 a year, or £4.80 a week, compared to a 3.2 per cent pay increase for Underground staff.

The strike is going ahead today after last-ditch peace talks on Tuesday resulted in an offer of £350 a year.

Unite claimed that TfL had not put an adequate contingency plan into place, meaning that Londoners could face travel chaos during an already busy weekend.

“The staff being required to cover for the CentreComm workers do not have anything like the necessary knowledge and experience to cope with what will be a very challenging weekend," said Unite regional officer John Murphy.

“It is totally unacceptable to expect bus drivers to perform their duties without ensuring that suitable welfare facilities and operational support networks are in place."

TfL has advised revellers and others travelling around London to plan journeys in advance.

Roads in West London are closed today for the Notting Hill carnival, including Cambridge Gardens between St Marks Road and Ladbroke Grove. Some restrictions will continue into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Extra buses are set to run on routes 2, 36 and 205 to cope with additional demand.